Govt told to form Safety Commission

Assembly committee urges step for police accountability in 2 weeks

LAHORE:

The Punjab Assembly's Committee on Law Reforms and Delegated Legislation has directed the government to establish a Provincial Public Safety and Complaints Commission within two weeks for accountability of the police.

The committee headed by Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan was assured by the government about the introduction of an amendment to the Police Order, 2002, to address procedural hurdles delaying the formation of District Public Safety and Complaints Commissions in the absence of representatives of local governments.

Members of the committee argued that the absence of the commissions violates statutory provisions and prevents assembly members from performing their oversight duties over police conduct across the province.

They emphasised that the establishment of the commissions is essential for balancing police autonomy with accountability to the public, as intended by the law.

The initiatives came in response to a point of order raised by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) MPA Ahmar Bhatti on October 29 in Punjab Assembly, contending that the establishment of the commissions is mandatory under the Police Order and the failure to constitute them infringes upon the assembly's privilege and duty to exercise oversight on behalf of the people of Punjab.

Speaker Khan had given a ruling referring the matter to the Privilege Committee, and Law Reforms and Delegated Legislation Committee.

Speaker Khan chaired the Law Reforms and Delegated Legislation Committee's meeting attended by additional chief secretary for home affairs, law secretary, advocate general and others.

The speaker emphasised that in a democracy, elected members of the assembly, particularly ministers, are answerable to the public, not to the department secretaries.

He stated that ministers must have the authority to ensure effective oversight of their departments and stressed that the assembly is committed to empowering elected representatives through reforms.

The committee unanimously raised concerns over the non-establishment of Public Safety and Complaints Commissions at both the provincial and district levels, a statutory requirement under the Police Order, 2002, that remains unimplemented after 22 years.

These commissions are essential for addressing police misconduct, ensuring transparency and protecting citizens' rights, it noted.

Punjab Advocate General Khalid Ishaq acknowledged the legal obligation to constitute the commissions, particularly the provincial authority, to comply with constitutional and statutory requirements.

The additional chief secretary for home stressed the urgency of establishing the commissions to restore public trust in law enforcement and ensure accountability.

Speaker Khan reiterated the need to replace colonial-era, oppressive frameworks with modern, democratic and citizen-focused legislation.

The members highlighted that ministers, as elected representatives, must have the authority to oversee their departments effectively, ensuring that accountability to the public remains a democratic norm.

The committee reiterated the need to decolonise and reform archaic laws, replacing them with citizen-centric frameworks.

The law secretary was also directed to submit a comprehensive report and presentation on the status of implementation of the 18th Constitutional Amendment and the legal and administrative steps taken or needed to be taken in the province to realize the full potential of the legislation to align the governance with democratic norms.

The debate on the point of order underscored the imbalance between the police's operational independence and the lack of accountability mechanisms, which undermines public trust. The Police Order envisioned Provincial and District Public Safety and Complaints Commissions to ensure democratic oversight, citizen participation and transparency.